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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it    
Commentary

TitleDescriptionDate
Why President Rivlin supports Israeli-Palestinian confederationAkiva Eldar - Al Monitor - "Perhaps it is maturity, or perhaps the move from the Knesset to the presidency that has transformed him." - id27/4/2016
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The Return of the Desert GodAdam Keller - Crazy Country - "A Jewish organization called "If Not Now" who tried to hold a Liberation Passover Seder on the premises of AIPAC"..."A statement issued by the organizers read: "Thousands of American Jews will do what it takes to make sure the next President – whoever they may be – knows that the strongest movement in history to end the occupation is rising in the Jewish community"." - id 27/4/2016
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Why Would Netanyahu Want to Remind the World of the Golan Heights?Gershom Gorenberg - The American Prospect - In principle, no country in the world accepts Israel`s rule of the Golan Heights. In practice, this is the least burning issue on the agenda regarding Syria. Surely no sensible Israeli politician would want to spoil this situation by calling attention to it. Perhaps no sensible Israeli politician would. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just has. [bz]26/4/2016
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Who agrees with Bernie Sanders on Israel? Large numbers of Americans.Dina Smeltz - - By flipping the script, Sanders’s comments help to highlight the nuances of American attitudes on Israel. Americans do not necessarily see any conflict in expressing support for a two-state solution, concerns about the treatment of Palestinians and concerns about Israeli settlements — all the while maintaining support for Israel. Time will tell if this frees up other political leaders to challenge the status quo. [bz]26/4/2016
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This Passover, We’re Joining Simone Zimmerman To Fight for Freedom for AllEthan Miller and Sara Sandmel--When the American Jewish establishment went after Simone Zimmerman, Bernie Sanders’s recent pick as his liaison to the Jewish community and a longtime social justice activist and organizer, it made a clear statement to an entire generation of young Jews: If you dare to depart from our position on Israel, you are not welcome in our fold.dn24/4/2016
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Speaking Arabic while flyingKhaled A Beydoun--Will it soon be necessary to check in one`s Muslim identity before boarding a plane? dn24/4/2016
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Israel`s covert war against Palestinian mediaNoam Rotem--Palestinian journalists are increasingly threatened, arrested and interrogated just for doing their jobs. And for the most part, Israeli journalists remain silent. dn24/4/2016
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Indignity, grief and mourning on the Gaza borderNomi Heger--Over the last two weeks, while everyone in Israel was talking about the segregation between Palestinian and Jewish women in post-natal care, we here at Gisha (an organization that promotes the freedom of movement of Gaza residents) provided legal assistance to one pregnant woman, who just happens to be Palestinian and could not care less who was lying next to her, where that woman was from or what sort of partying her hospital room mates would be doing. These privileges were the last thing on her mind. She wanted one thing and one thing only – which to us seems self-evident – she wanted to hold her spouse’s hand while the doctors induced her fetus’ demise.dn24/4/2016
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Were Bibi`s Golan comments a `death blow` to peace?Akiva Eldar--The declaration by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel will hold on to the Golan Heights forever threatens any possibility of an agreement with the Palestinians and Arab states. dn24/4/2016
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Next year in rebuilt Jerusalem: A Passover call for justiceOren Kroll-Zeldin - +972 - The seder is a ritual that foregrounds the act of asking questions and we should participate in and encourage this important aspect of the seder. This year, ask the people around your seder table what Jerusalem means to them – reflect on what it means to you and what it might mean for others. What does Jerusalem symbolize? Who is permitted to go to Jerusalem— for work or school or to visit with family—and who is forbidden from entering the city? This year when you end your seder, think about what it means to say, “Next year in Jerusalem.” What would it mean to truly “rebuild” Jerusalem? How can true freedom, justice, and liberation be achieved? [bz]23/4/2016
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Closing ranks before overwhelming challengesSayed Abdel-Meguid - Al-Ahram Weekly "A resolution is expected on Palestine that will set priorities for political action to champion Palestinian rights and affirm OIC support for international efforts to revive the peace process within a set timetable with the goal of ending the Israeli occupation. The summit will also consider supporting an international peace conference to end the Israeli occupation, the establishing of a ministerial liaison team on Jerusalem and approval of a strategic plan for the development of the city." ca22/4/2016
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Marwan Barghouti is planning a comeback — from behind barsMenachem Klein - +972 "He may be serving five consecutive life sentences in an Israeli prison but Marwan Barghouti is the only leader who has a chance to succeed Mahmoud Abbas and unite the Palestinian people. This is how he plans on doing it." ca22/4/2016
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Who is really inciting violence in Israel-Palestine conflict? Shlomi Eldar - Al-Monitor "The Palestinian Information Ministry in Ramallah has in recent months been compiling materials it claims are proof that the Israeli media incites hatred against Palestinians in general and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in particular." ca 22/4/2016
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Netanyahu Claims Syria ‘Occupies’ Golan, Despite International Recognition of Syrian SovereigntyRichard Silverstein - Tikun Olam - "In a total charade-provocation, he brought his entire cabinet to the Golan, that is sovereign Syrian territory Israel wrested from Syrian control during the 1967 War." - id20/4/2016
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Sanders vs. Clinton: Palestinian Defender vs. Israeli Apologist by MARJORIE COHNMARJORIE COHN - CounterPunch - "An amazing thing happened at the prime-time Democratic debate in Brooklyn on Thursday. A few days ahead of Tuesday’s delegate-rich New York primary, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders dared to criticize Israel. Rival Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, stood firm as an uncritical apologist for Israel." - id 20/4/2016
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Bernie`s Israel HeresyRoger Cohwen - NYT - "..we are going to have to treat the Palestinian people with respect and dignitu." - id20/4/2016
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Israel-Palestine: Social Media As a Tool Of Oppression - and ResistanceNadim Nashif - Huffington Post - The most important role of social media seems to be that it is opening new opportunities for Palestinians who are separated by the many physical borders Israel has erected to freedom of movement, including the Separation Wall and checkpoints, to connect and build solidarity movements with one another. [bz] 19/4/2016
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Neoliberalism – the ideology at the root of all our problems George Monbiot--Financial meltdown, environmental disaster and even the rise of Donald Trump – neoliberalism has played its part in them all. Why has the left failed to come up with an alternative? dn17/4/2016
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Criticizing Israel, Bernie Sanders Highlights Split Among Jewish DemocratsJASON HOROWITZ--Senator Bernie Sanders at Thursday night’s Democratic debate in Brooklyn. In response to a question about Israel, Mr. Sanders said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is not right all of the time.” Credit Chang W. Lee/The New York Times dn17/4/2016
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What Bernie Sanders gets right about IsraelJamal Zahalka--Bernie Sanders remarks on the last Israel attack on Gaza raised controversy and led to a series of angry responses by both the Zionist lobby in the United States and the Israeli public. His opponents took advantage of the fact that he mistakenly told the New York Daily News that 10,000 innocent Palestinian civilians were killed in the attack (despite Sanders clarifying in the interview that he is not sure of the numbers, and asked the interviewer to correct him if necessary). Many demanded that Sanders not only correct his mistake, but also retract his statement that Israel bombed Gaza indiscriminately, leveling entire neighborhoods, hospitals, and schools.dn16/4/2016
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Do Israelis lack empathy for Palestinian suffering?Akiva Eldar - Al Monitor - "While Israeli Jews have always demonstrated solidarity with Jews around the world, they reject demonstrations of solidarity by Israeli Palestinians toward their brothers under occupation." - id15/4/2016
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Netanyahu: Ethnic CleanserRichard Silverstei - Tikun Olam - "“Israel should have exploited China’s suppression of the demonstrations [Tienanmen Square], at a time when the world’s attention was devoted to events in that country, in order to conduct mass expulsions of the Arabs [sic] of the Occupied Territories. However, to my sorrow, they [government ministers] didn’t support the policy I espoused and whose implementation I continue to recommend.”" - id15/4/2016
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The Israeli Right`s historic ties to European fascismNoam Rotem - +972 - "The ruling Likud party welcomed to Israel members of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party, whose founders were high-ranking officials in the Third Reich. But the Israeli Right’s ties to fascist movements stretches back as far as the 1920s." - id 15/4/2016
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PALESTINIANS NEED A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTRay Hanania - The Arab Daily News - "BUT WHAT PALESTINIANS NEED IS A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT THAT IS TRULY DRIVEN BY PEACEFUL PROTEST AND THAT CAN HELP RESTRAIN THE URGE TO VENGEANCE AND REVENGE." - id15/4/2016
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Why more Israelis are shying away from interaction with Palestinians Akiva Eldar - Al-Monitor "Of course I’m frustrated with our lack of success in breaching the walls of Israeli fear and loathing, but I’m not completely surprised,” said Zananiri. “What do you expect of Jewish citizens whose leader questions the basic democratic rights of Israel’s Arab citizens?” ca 13/4/2016
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Israel’s Unsung Protector: ObamaLara Friedman - NYT - Netanyahu’s policies, words and actions — especially continued settlement expansion and new land confiscations — proved that Mr. Obama’s tactic had been ineffective, perhaps even counterproductive. There is reason to hope that Mr. Obama, having achieved nothing by shielding Israel, is now ready to embrace constructive Security Council action related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. [Lara Friedman is the director of policy and government relations for Americans for Peace Now-bz]12/4/2016
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Israel Should Let Conscientious Objector Serve Both Society and Her Conscience Haaretz editorial - IDF officials hinted to Tair Kaminer that “there are ways to get out of the IDF,” by seeking a mental-health exemption, for example. But her honesty, conscience and declared principles frighten the IDF and cause the military system to continue abusing her. [bz]12/4/2016
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Obama, Support Abbas` UN Resolution, No Matter What Netanyahu SaysHaaretz editorial - The resolution calls for the immediate resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, with a one-year deadline to complete them and reach a final-status arrangement based on the principle of two states. It would (...) condemn continued Israeli construction in the occupied territories, as well as any action whose purpose is to change the demographic balance in the area. (...) The Security Council must demonstrate daring that will breathe new life into the peace process. [bz]12/4/2016
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What happened to all the stabbing attacks?Yoav Zitun - Y-net - The last substantial attack took place more than two weeks ago. Ironically, what happened 11 minutes later could have escalated the violent uprising; a Kfir Brigade soldier shot one of the terrorists, lying neutralized on the ground. Despite fear of reprisals, Palestinians have not carried out new attacks. According to Palestinian officials the Israeli public and military response to the incident has calmed Palestinian desire to exact revenge. [ak]12/4/2016
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Lawfare and the threat of human rightsNeve Gordon - MEMO - “From the Israeli government’s perspective, the human rights organisations in Europe which submit petitions to national and regional courts are involved in ‘lawfare’, a compound term which combines law and warfare and is defined as the use of law for realising military objectives. Lawfare refers to the attempt on the part of individuals and groups to file suits in international courts against state violence emanating from the so-called global war on terrorism, practices that include torture, extra-judicial executions and the bombing of civilian urban infrastructure” [ry] 11/4/2016
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What`s so threatening about human rights?Dror Etkes - +972 - The Right doesn’t reject the concept of universal human rights because it threatens the Zionist project, they do so because it would mean seeing Palestinians as equals [ry] 11/4/2016
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MK Zouheir Bahlou defends remark that Hebron stabber is not a terroristAhiya Raved--When Dichter later discussed a nationality bill, Bahloul responded, “Then why are you attacking me when I say this is your state? This is your state! You are making the definition of the state more radical. Instead of a democratic and Jewish state, you say the state of the Jewish nation.” dn10/4/2016
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What Happened at This Once-idyllic West Bank Spot Embodies the Israeli Occupation`s Evils Gideon Levy and Alex Levac--As of this week, Israeli authorities have demolished structures in a Palestinian hamlet near the Jordan Rift Valley four times this year. An improvised school and a small swimming pool also fell victim to the bulldozers. . . The embodiment of evil is on display in Khirbet Tana. If you want to see evil in its most distilled form, visit the heap of ruins that until two weeks ago was a small swimming pool here. Sheer malevolence and nothing else motivated those who destroyed it. No bureaucratic or legal justification can account for this act of brutality – the destruction of a tiny, unique leisure site in the heart of one of the most spectacular areas of the West Bank, not long after its construction, financed by donations from Palestinian sources. dn10/4/2016
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The Case of ‘Soldier A’Uri Avnery - Antiwar, Gush Shalom - For the first time in the history of Israel we are witnessing a full-fledged mutiny. A group of soldiers, supported by a major part of the political scene, has mutinied against their commanders. This is a major menace to the structure of the state, a challenge to what remains of our democracy. gm9/4/2016
Nothing Justifies Palestinian Stabbings, Nothing Justifies Israeli Executions Rita Khoury--Palestinians are losing hope I`m a Palestinian citizen of the State of Israel. I speak and understand both Arabic and Hebrew. I follow both sides’ commentaries on events. I can understand how the two sides think. I feel obliged to use this special position, this bridge, to show empathy and criticism for both sides. I have no interest in the State of Israel disappearing or in expelling the Jews. I am a Palestinian with many Jewish friends: we work with and respect each other. But I have my hard moments. When I’m in a business meeting with Jewish colleagues in Tel Aviv, working together, joking around, then I hear about a security incident in Jerusalem, blood flowing in the streets. I try to stay quiet, to continue the meeting, but I run to the washroom crying, asking myself why this is happening. dn 9/4/2016
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How Netanyahu sows fear among IsraelisMazal Mualem - Il-Monitor - Like an articulate Middle East commentator, Netanyahu sounds like he knows what he is talking about. But Netanyahu does not provide any solution — he only scares. Inside, the nicely wrapped package of words is hollow. There is no solution there — only a void. Netanyahu simply blinds the public with more words and more slogans.-rh 6/4/2016
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Execution of Palestinian Exposes Israel’s Military Culture Jonathan Cook Counterpunch - "For decades Israel has trumpeted its army as uniquely “moral”. The claim was always risible. But in an era of phone cameras, hiding the systematic crimes of a belligerent occupying power has proved ever harder." - id 6/4/2016
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Will a two-state solution be announced in November? Akiva Eldar - Al Monitor - "The US administration is discreetly testing Israeli and Palestinian reactions to three options it is currently contemplating to advance the two-state solution." - id 6/4/2016
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Is BDS such a bad thing? Sima Kadmon - Ynet - "The boycott movement is greatly feared and hated in Israel, but what does it really look like, and what would its victory really mean for Israel?" - id 6/4/2016
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Between Betrayal and BrutalizationYacov Ben Efrat - Challenge - "All attempts to make the occupation “normal” explode daily in the face of the current government. The army is brutal. People are brutal and extremism rules." - id 6/4/2016
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The source of Palestinian incitementRami Younis - +972 - Israelis are right, there is dangerous incitement among Palestinians. Here’s what they can do to fight it [ry] 4/4/2016
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The Ultimate Trial of Israeli SocietyYoav Litvin - CounterPunch - “But what is the significance of yet another injustice in an endless list of those committed as a result of the occupation? While cold- blooded murder is an ‘official’ taboo for the ‘most moral army in the world’, last week’s execution and Israeli society’s response to it may serve as a milestone on the long and ugly road toward complete dehumanization of Palestinians and the resulting collapse of Israeli society” [ry] 4/4/2016
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Arrest of soldier filmed executing Palestinian was just public relationsMaureen Clare Murphy--An Israeli soldier shown on video executing an incapacitated Palestinian last week was arrested only “to avoid embarrassment in front of the world,” according to the human rights group Al-Haq.dn3/4/2016
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AIPAC polarizing US JewsYossi Shain--Op-ed: The purportedly bipartisan pro-Israel organization has become increasingly identified with right-wing politics, and its recent conference provides evidence of that. dn3/4/2016
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Donald Trump or Ted Cruz: Pick your poisonGeoffrey Aronson--There is nothing that is funny or even enjoyable about this campaign season. Personalities like Cruz and Trump are not cardboard characters, but serious contenders to be president of the US, writes Aronson [AP] dn3/4/2016
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Inside the Mind of the Budding Fascist B. Michael - Haaretz "In the neofascist Israeli consciousness, the Palestinians are like cockroaches. Even when they lie on the ground, helpless, their heads must be crushed with a slipper, or punctured by a bullet...All doubt has therefore been removed; we can check off the “dehumanization” box and move to the next stage." ca1/4/2016
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American lawyers request investigation into the Jewish National Fund statusPalestine News Network - "The U.S. National Lawyers Guild (NLG) on Wednesday submitted a regulatory challenge to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requesting an investigation into the charitable status of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) on grounds of discrimination and contravention of U.S. policy. According to the NLG, the JNF enjoys tax-exempt status as a charitable organization in the United States even though the reality of its work- supporting Israel’s ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine – is anything but charitable." ca 1/4/2016
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The only way to ensure Palestinian lives matterMichael Schaeffer Omer-Man - +972 "The IDF’s decision not to charge Abed Fatah al-Sharif’s killer with murder should not surprise anybody — it is entirely consistent with the impunity Israeli security personnel have enjoyed for decades when it comes to killing Palestinians." ca1/4/2016
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Gazans` Only Possible Collective Act of Defiance Against Blockade Amira Hass--If not for the tunnels and rockets, the Gaza Strip would never be mentioned in the Israeli media. From our perspective it nearly fell into the sea, together with its almost two million residents. So even if we don’t openly acknowledge the Gazan skills behind the tunnels, they are the only beneficiaries of free publicity from the Israeli machine for generating panic and concealing the true causes for concern. Occasionally Gaza pops up in our media as a mute or inarticulate community of welfare cases that needs the world’s generosity and the kindness of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (which rescues sick lions from Gaza’s zoo and facilitates their transfer to Tul Karm, in the West Bank). dn30/4/2016
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How education became an Israeli political toolAkiva Eldar--Minister Naftali Bennett and his colleagues from other Orthodox parties know that teaching their ideology to school children will benefit themselves politically in the long run. dn30/4/2016
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Israel`s war on the Arabic languageJonathan Cook - Al-Jazeera "The hostile attitude of official bodies, including municipalities like Tel Aviv, encourages a general climate that treats Arabic as an alien and despised language.”...Worse, the same survey found that half of Israeli Jews with a western heritage wanted Arabic scrapped as an official language, while the figure rose even higher - to 60 percent - among Jews whose families originated from Arab countries." ca 8/4/2016
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